Here Are All The Phish References I Snuck Into My Article About Phish

July 11, 2013

In my article today about political journalists who are fans of the band Phish, I noted that a common practice for Phish fans is to drop bits of lyrics into their tweets, their writings, and their broadcasts, ideally with a deftness that allows other Phish fans to recognize the reference but keeps the prose readable for all the normal people out there. I also noted that I myself am a huge Phish fan. See where I’m going with this? Below, a guide to all the Phish-lyric Easter eggs I snuck into the piece. I’ve got the time, if you’ve got the inclination…

I wrote: “Ideally, the lyrics are double entendres that reveal nothing to outsiders, like a thin veil of clouds that keeps stars out of sight.”Source: “Lawnboy”Throughout the nightWhen there’s no direct lightAnd a thin veil of cloudsKeeps the stars out of site

I wrote: “… observes National Review’s Robert Costa, who has been going to Phish shows for a decade and can easily recognize these subtle sounds.”Source: “Scents and Subtle Sounds”Scents and subtle soundsColors in the void

I wrote: “I will be attending my 27th Phish show Friday night. And yes, I can hear you when you sigh.”Source: “Water in the Sky”Thunder calls through waterfallsRising tides and ocean wallsI can hear you when you sigh

I wrote: Sources: Don’t want to be a painter, cause everyone comes to lookDon’t want to be anything where my life’s an open book

I’m out and I will stay here alone and withoutSomeone controlled by the phone and TVCause what it’s doing to me is fine

I wrote: “And Costa recalls that when he and Sherman were eating crabs (or at least enjoying a show) at Merriweather Post, ‘We were talking about Trey’s pedals, not politics.’”Source: “Walfredo”We were eating crab at Merriweather Post

I wrote: “Washington’s political scene is incestuous and phony—enemies who will build you up just so they can knock you down, friends you can see right through—while Phishland is incestuous and fun.”Sources: “Birds of a Feather”Sometimes people build you up just so they can knock you downSometimes they will have you there cause they need someone around

Trapped in time, and I don’t know what to doThese friends of mine I can see right through

I wrote: “Is it surprising that a few bedraggled members of “This Town” would actively seek solace with fellow journalists who share the same open, dirty secret—that they would actively seek to share in the groove, if you will?”Source: “Mike’s Song”/“Weekapaug Groove”

You don’t gotta tell me that I don’t gotta moveCause I’m sitting back here sharin’ in the grooveTrying to make a woman match your moveAnd I’m sharin’ in a Weekapaug Groove

I wrote: “Politicos and Phishheads both make for easy punchlines. But some jokes are better than others, and we all must laugh.”Source: “Bathtub Gin”Here comes the joker, and we all must laughCause we’re all in this together, and we love to take a bath!